Sunday, March 24, 2013

Budget forum: Many decry tax hike; others flunk school cuts

A forum Saturday morning on the proposed 2013-14 town budget drew more than 100 people, with many residents saying the town is becoming unaffordable while other argued that programs in the town's schools, such as music and world languages, shouldn't bear the brunt of potential cuts by town boards. The forum, held by the town's Board of Finance at the Fairfield Senior Center, came a day after First Selectman Michael Tetreau announced that the projected tax increase for the proposed $287 million budget has been reduced from an initial 6.4 percent to 4.8 percent.
But many of the roughly 50 residents who spoke said the tax increase is still too high.
"This wonderful town is becoming unaffordable with all the tax increases," said Charlotte Bartol of Sasco Hill Road. She said she's had to make cuts to her family's budget and that it is "so frustrating I'm making all the cuts but our town isn't." "We the people of Fairfield need a break, a financial break," Bartol said. Of the reduction in next fiscal year's proposed tax increase, said John Donovan of Taintor Drive, "We're halfway there." Donovan said the tax increase should equal the rate of inflation. READ MORE: http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/news/article/Budget-forum-Many-decry-tax-hike-others-flunk-4379242.php

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